"Hey C.C., if you were stuck on an island and could only bring one cosmetic - what would it be?"

Lipgloss.  Anyone and everyone who knows me is well aware of my fascination with lip products.  Be it lip balm, lip gloss, lip stain, or lipstick -- I love it all.  I’ve been known to keep at least 4-5 different lip glosses in my purse at all times.  Even carrying a clutch I manage to sneak in 3!  So I thought to myself that I should probably narrow down the choices so I’m not stuck carrying 5 extra pounds in makeup when I’m out and about.

After deciding I needed to cut down, I realized I needed to figure out HOW to cut down.  Thinking about what I needed, I’ve figured out 4 major categories that need to be addressed - Versatile, Vibrant Color, Value, and Va-Va-Voom!

Versatile

Avon’s Pro 3-in-1 Lip Wand tops the chart when it comes to a lip product that does it all.  Global Creative Color Director, Jillian Dempsey, helped in designing the perfect tube that’s complete with coordinating lip pencil, lipstick, and lipgloss.  She also hand-picked the shades to make sure that a variety of different choices were available.  Plus, she lends us all a hand in the guessing game of whether or not the liner matches the lipstick or lipgloss!

Image courtesy of AVON

The Pro 3-in-1 was made so that we could play with our lip look!  The possibilities are endless when you have all the ingredients right at your fingertips.  I tried the wand in Frozen Rose and I was thoroughly impressed.

Why I love it:

The liner went on smoothly and the lipstick was creamy and didn’t make my lips feather or bleed

the lipgloss smelled fruity and had a great consistency - light and not too sticky - with just the right amount of shine

Vibrant Color

When it comes to a gloss that has brilliant, pigment-rich color I can look no further than Cosmoholic.  Created by makeup industry veteran, Jody Cohen, the formula is the perfect mixture of lipstick and lipgloss.  What woman doesn’t love the rich, vibrant color of a lipstick?  And who could resist the shine of a gloss?  Bringing the together wasn’t easy but it’s now a reality.  My pick?  Promiscuous Pink!

Image courtesy of CosmoholicOnline.com

Why I love it:

Each Cosmoholic gloss is made with a little emergency ‘repair kit’ for your lips that nourishes the skin and constructs a barrier to keep irritants out.  Besides that it’s chockfull of Vitamin E, Vitamin C, and is rich in antioxidants.

What I noticed:
I used the shade Promiscuous Pink and I was hesitant at first since it’s hard for me to find a good shade of pink due to my skin tone.  After application I noticed that the gloss was NOT sticky at all.  Wait, isn’t this lip gloss?  Yes, it is but the gloss went on smoothly and didn’t stick at all.

Also the shades are all matte - which I loved!  Don’t get me wrong, I love shimmering glosses.. it’s just that this gloss is better without.  Of course, for those who need the glimmer, Cosmoholic has made a special one just for you - Gold Digger, a shade can take you from day into night with a little shimmer.

Value

I stumbled on this pocket-friendly gloss on the way to a wedding when I realized I hadn’t slipped a lip gloss into my tiny little clutch.  After running around the drug store for a few moments, a display caught my eye -- Sally Hansen’s Natural Butter Lip Shine.  My lips aren’t that small so I LOVE getting all the moisture I can.  These babies retail for around $5-$7 and are amazing for the price!

Image courtesy of SallyHansen.com

Why I love it:

The gloss is made from 94% NATURAL ingredients -- which means it’s practically less than 6% synthetic.  How great is that?  The list of ingredients included Shea, Mango, Cocoa, Olive, AND Avocado butters!  And as if that wasn’t enough there’s Vitamin E and Acai Berry, Blueberry and Blackberry extract.

What I noticed:

The gloss went on SUPER smoothly and the consistency was absolutely perfect - rich yet still light.  I chose the shade that was very mauve called Fresh and it delivered just the right amount of color, without looking too overbearing.  It smells delicious and kept my lips soft and moisturized all night long.

Saving the best for last..

Va-Va-Voom

There’s nothing sexier than big pouty lips that are smooth, soft, and glossy!  Created by Purple Lab NYC, Huge Lips, Skinny Hips is the only gloss that not only plumps your pout but also kicks away your hunger pangs.  How does it do that?  It plumps using Vitamin B3 but doesn’t sting the way your old plumper did since it’s chock-full of lemon peel oil, which provides a cooling effect.  This is the gloss that has it ALL - value, vibrant color, and is extremely versatile when it comes to building color up OR down!

Image courtesy of PurpleLab NYC

Why I love it:

This fabulous gloss comes in 6 universally wearable shades - I swear!  Each of the shades are sheer enough to be worn by almost any skin tone yet still packed with enough color and shine to last the day.

What I noticed:

First off, it smells like candy.  If I wasn’t excited about a new lip gloss, I probably would’ve eaten it.  I’m a big fan of the nude lip so I went for the shade Kitty Poledancer (named for one of the creator’s favorite hobbies).  A few minutes after application I saw a noticeable plump -- without that annoying burn!  After using it for about a week, I noticed how much softer and smoother my lips had become which I learned was due to the gloss being rich in Meadowfoam, which locks moisture to the lips using Vitamin E.